New neglect charges for animal rescue cofounder

LISBON  A teen connected with an animal rescue operation faces new animal neglect charges for alleged maltreatment of two pigs at a Forsythe Road property while charges in previous cases remain unresolved.

Aleaha R. Hollis, 19, of 53 Forsythe Road, was charged Thursday with failing to provide proper sustenance under the states Agricultural and Markets Law, a class A misdemeanor, St. Lawrence County Sheriffs deputies said, adding that investigation revealed the two animals to be malnourished and unhealthy.

Undersheriff Scott F. Bonno said Friday that it wasnt clear whether the animals had been removed from the property.

Officials at the St. Lawrence County District Attorneys office, meanwhile, confirmed that three other misdemeanor cases against Miss Hollis are still pending, including animal cruelty charges from 2011 and 2012.

Miss Hollis and her mother, Sheila Hollis, were cofounders of Last Chance Corral, a Haggart Road operation dedicated to rescuing animals from the perils of malnutrition and slaughter.

In September 2011, Miss Hollis was accused by state police of not providing proper food and water to horses, donkeys, ponies, sheep and goats in her care. Four horses and six cats were taken from the property, she was quoted as saying.

The owner of the Haggart Road property, Dorothy J. Ramsey, told the Times in 2011 that she was renting a pasture to Miss Hollis when the alleged neglect began.

She said she contacted police after noticing the condition of the animals.

Sheila Hollis responded that her daughter sometimes had trouble getting the water to turn on and accused the landlord of not properly fixing the problem.

She also said one of the horses that appeared to be underfed had been sick and refused to eat.

Miss Hollis pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of animal cruelty in that case, the earliest of the three still outstanding, according to the DAs office.

She also faces third-degree assault and trespassing charges in connection with a November 2011 incident. Police said Miss Hollis went to a home on Route 58 in Macomb, where some of her horses were being kept, after resident Amanda N. Wilson called police to accuse Miss Hollis of animal cruelty. An argument ensued, and Miss Hollis struck Ms. Wilson in the mouth, cutting her lip, police said.

The DAs office also indicated that Miss Hollis faces more charges, including allowing breeding animals to roam, in connection with an October incident, the details of which could not be verified on Friday.

Miss Hollis is to appear in Lisbon Town Court to answer the new charges.

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